Naperville mixed-use site faces opposition

August 05, 2005

A developer's plans to build a shopping center, office buildings, a gas station with a carwash and a religious facility in Naperville are being questioned by nearby residents because of increased traffic concerns.

Ashwood Crossing is planned for nearly 40 acres at the southwest corner of 95th Street and 248th Avenue.

The Plan Commission reviewed the project by Naperville-based Macom Corp. on Wednesday.

Plans show 10 acres for the Islamic Center of Naperville, which is designed to seat 700 people. It also includes a 7,000-square-foot gymnasium and a 20,000-square-foot elementary school for an estimated 130 students. The mosque is outgrowing its existing facility on the northeast side of the city, according to the developer's attorney Kathy West.

The site also will have four single-story office buildings, two single-story retail buildings and a gas station with a carwash.

The developer is seeking to annex the site into the city and rezone it for commercial, institutional and office use.

Some residents from the adjacent Tall Grass neighborhood were concerned about the placement of the mosque's entrance, located across from the subdivision's entrance. Tall Grass residents believe it will increase cut-through traffic in their neighborhood.

"I'm concerned about the traffic from the development. I'm concerned about our quality of life and our property values," said resident Wilburn Wilkins.

Some residents asked the commission to consider additional buffering between the project and their neighborhood. Commissioners suggested the developer replace the proposed gas station with another use because the area already is saturated with service stations.